HstWB Installer for Classic Amiga

AMIGASYSTEM · 12 April 2018, 17:21

HstWB Installer is a set of powershell scripts, image templates, configuration files, AmigaDOS scripts and binaries used to easily build Amiga HDF or directory images with automated installation of Workbench, Kickstarts roms and packages with additional content for Classic Amiga. It's currently being developed and maintained by Henrik Nørfjand Stengaard.
Setting up a blank Amiga HDF image with e.g. PFS3, Workbench, Kickstarts roms, WHDLoad games and demos installed properly can be a cumbersome task unless you spend a lot of time figuring out how this is done step by step.
This is where HstWB Installer come to aid and can help to automate such installations using WinUAE and should be possible for almost anyone to do with very little knowledge about Amiga.
The packages included are BetterWB, HstWB, EAB WHDLoad games and demos menus for both AGA and OCS. Menu packages has screenshots and details for EAB games and demos WHDLoad packs configured for Arcade Game Selector 2 and iGame. These packages can be added to an image configuration and will be installed during HstWB Installer installation process.
In general HstWB Installer is build as a minimalistic as possible using BetterWB and HstWB to support A500 as a minimum. HstWB is mainly targeted A500, A600, A1200. The minimalistic approach allows users to customize it further with their own preferences like installing eg. MagicWB or Scalos.
Since Amiga Workbench and Kickstart roms are licensed property these files can't be included as they need to be acquired legally by buying Cloanto Amiga Forever or using grabkick from aminet to dump roms from real Amiga's.
HstWB is short for my name and Workbench (very original, I know).

HstWB v1.2.0 Beta3: Download

spudje · 13 April 2018, 09:28

Nice!

Josh · 22 April 2018, 15:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by spudje

Nice!

Indeed

Cheers Josh

Sandancer · 22 April 2018, 20:36

Looks cool Thanks

mfletcher · 22 April 2018, 23:55

Ive been playing around with this today and it definitely simplifies setting up systems in winuae... thanks!

Hercules · 13 August 2018, 23:22

Been playing around with this today... All paths setup correctly, and a whole day spent digesting the guides. It just wouldn't build an image at all throwing up errors when setting up with AF 2016. A shame because it looked promising.

kolla · 14 August 2018, 01:30

Too bad noone will get to see what those errors were.

Minuous · 14 August 2018, 02:19

A "minimalistic" installer that weighs in at 823Mb!?

I think I'll pass...

kolla · 16 August 2018, 11:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minuous

A "minimalistic" installer that weighs in at 823Mb!?

That's because it contains ...

Code:

 12M	BetterWB.4.0.3.zip
 18M	ClassicWB.68K.28.0.0.zip
 63M	ClassicWB.ADV.28.0.1.zip
 72M	ClassicWB.ADVSP.28.0.1.zip
 63M	ClassicWB.FULL.28.0.1.zip
 21M	ClassicWB.LITE.28.0.1.zip
 64M	ClassicWB.OS39.28.0.0.zip
 79M	ClassicWB.P96.28.0.1.zip
 55M	EAB.WHDLoad.Demos.AGA.Menu.3.0.0.zip
 43M	EAB.WHDLoad.Demos.OCS.Menu.3.0.0.zip
181M	EAB.WHDLoad.Games.AGA.Menu.3.0.0.zip
129M	EAB.WHDLoad.Games.OCS.Menu.3.0.0.zip
 11M	HstWB.1.1.2.zip
1.4M	HstWB.Mini.1.0.0.zip
620K	Picasso96.1.0.0.zip

cyberhead97 · 17 August 2018, 14:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hercules

Been playing around with this today... All paths setup correctly, and a whole day spent digesting the guides. It just wouldn't build an image at all throwing up errors when setting up with AF 2016. A shame because it looked promising.

Error messages are much appreciated to help resolving issues users experience.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minuous

A "minimalistic" installer that weighs in at 823Mb!?

I think I'll pass...

The description of HstWB Installer at github needs to be updated as it's in itself is quite minimalistic at least without all packages. Packages makes it heavy, but there would be no fun without them.

The wording minimalistic was also more target HstWB package, which is my own Workbench enhancement. That only has few devices, libs, icons and programs installed on top of Workbench 3.1.

With updated tutorials, documentation and creating video tutorials as well I really hope this helps to understand how it's used. This is what I'm currently working on with latest beta releases to make it final.

---

I already have planned HstWB Installer v2.0 and it will get a GUI next to the Console. It will be rewritten in Python to support most platforms Windows, macOS, Linux incl. Raspberry PI. For Windows I will use py2exe making it completely standalone and for macOS py2app wrapping in a dmg for simplified use. A plain Python is also available for advanced users preferring to run python scripts as they like.

Unfortunately I don't have a timeline for v2.0, so best bet for initial release of that would be sometime next year.

boondoggle · 08 October 2018, 22:43

After I managed to name the workbench disks and kickstarts it was a straight forward setup. Then just renaming the hdf to vhd and write it to CF card with winimage was easy. However I now wonder if there is an easy way to update whdload package for AGS2 with new entries and images?
Would it be possible for you to make some script to get screenshots from openretro.org? I´m thinking like using UUID info from FS-UAE database like: https://forums.launchbox-app.com/top...ith-launchbox/

gulliver · 08 October 2018, 23:18

Thank you for your continuing work in HstWB !

cyberhead97 · 09 October 2018, 22:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by gulliver

Thank you for your continuing work in HstWB !

Thanks, I see you have created a new BestWB enhancement I would like to include and at the same time add support for Workbench 3.1.4.

gulliver · 10 October 2018, 04:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyberhead97

Thanks, I see you have created a new BestWB enhancement I would like to include and at the same time add support for Workbench 3.1.4.

Then, start working!

eispic · 11 October 2018, 09:37

Could extend that also for the following OS ?
AmigaOS4.1 FE
A.I.A.B
BestWB

cyberhead97 · 11 October 2018, 22:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by gulliver

Then, start working!

Yes sir! I will... and have started creating support for automated installation of Amiga OS 3.1.4 A1200 version at first put as part of HstWB Installer v1.3.0-ALPHA.

It's not in a user friendly state yet, but it's taking good shape, works and does automated installation from both adf files and floppy disks at the moment.

I have also added installation of the new Glow Icons on the storage disk, which depends on what users select in a requester choosing either yes and no.

Here's a video of the Amiga OS 3.1.4 A1200 being installed using WinUAE [ Show youtube player ].

Quote:

Originally Posted by eispic

Could extend that also for the following OS ?
AmigaOS4.1 FE
A.I.A.B
BestWB

I plan support for BestWB together with Amiga OS 3.1.4 and haven't looked much into Amiga OS 4.1 FE or A.I.A.B.

TroyWilkins · 24 June 2020, 02:21

I only just discovered this, due to it being mentioned elsewhere on this forum, and I think you've done a fantastic job, well done.

I know this may be too much to ask, but would it be possible to add support for Kickstart 37.350 and Workbench 2, so I could use this to prep a setup for my real A600 that only has a soldered 37.350 ROM and 2MB Chip with a 16GB card? If that's too much to ask, I understand, and I can try to make it up on my own, as I know it's a niche request.

Hercules · 24 June 2020, 23:08

Once this project has better documentation, then I shall be happy to support it.

dalek · 25 June 2020, 05:09

In my opinion the documentation is excellent.

rabidgerry · 30 June 2020, 13:57

I have successfully done these installs using the 8gb image. But I will be honest I haven't a clue what half the options are. I would love to do it on the Amiga itself but I really don't know how to do that going on the guides.

I have a question about creating an Hard File on WINUAE. Is it literally a case of copying the Hard File (once I run through the scripts obviously) via image copying software to removeable drive (my CF card)?

This is how I did it even though the software I used didn't recognise the Hard File format, it still let me select it and I've copied the entire image to CF card and all seems to be working. I just remember it being a lot harder than this when I setup Classic workbench full on CF card before. I had to do something to the card on real Amiga to get it setup properly in order to stop errors.

Also once I copied the Hard File to CF card I noticed if I deleted the partition using Hdtools to reformat and rename it something else, it would screw up the install and it would no longer work in WINUAE. Why would this be? I would leave the workbench partition intact but delete the other partition (6gb in my case) so I could re-name it but it was cause it to ruin the install somehow.

I'm going to try a 16gb install soon. The rom switching thing is excellent, no more issues trying to map rom in Acatool to try and do an install.

12 April 2018, 17:21	#1
AMIGASYSTEM Registered User Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Brindisi (Italy) Age: 70 Posts: 8,248	HstWB Installer for Classic Amiga HstWB Installer is a set of powershell scripts, image templates, configuration files, AmigaDOS scripts and binaries used to easily build Amiga HDF or directory images with automated installation of Workbench, Kickstarts roms and packages with additional content for Classic Amiga. It's currently being developed and maintained by Henrik Nørfjand Stengaard. Setting up a blank Amiga HDF image with e.g. PFS3, Workbench, Kickstarts roms, WHDLoad games and demos installed properly can be a cumbersome task unless you spend a lot of time figuring out how this is done step by step. This is where HstWB Installer come to aid and can help to automate such installations using WinUAE and should be possible for almost anyone to do with very little knowledge about Amiga. The packages included are BetterWB, HstWB, EAB WHDLoad games and demos menus for both AGA and OCS. Menu packages has screenshots and details for EAB games and demos WHDLoad packs configured for Arcade Game Selector 2 and iGame. These packages can be added to an image configuration and will be installed during HstWB Installer installation process. In general HstWB Installer is build as a minimalistic as possible using BetterWB and HstWB to support A500 as a minimum. HstWB is mainly targeted A500, A600, A1200. The minimalistic approach allows users to customize it further with their own preferences like installing eg. MagicWB or Scalos. Since Amiga Workbench and Kickstart roms are licensed property these files can't be included as they need to be acquired legally by buying Cloanto Amiga Forever or using grabkick from aminet to dump roms from real Amiga's. HstWB is short for my name and Workbench (very original, I know). HstWB v1.2.0 Beta3: Download

24 June 2020, 23:08	#18
Hercules Vodka monster. Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: UK Posts: 332	Once this project has better documentation, then I shall be happy to support it. Last edited by Hercules; 24 June 2020 at 23:08. Reason: typo

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13 April 2018, 09:28	#2
spudje Registered User Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Netherlands Posts: 1,406	Nice!

22 April 2018, 20:36	#4
Sandancer Registered User Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Wakefield Posts: 270	Looks cool Thanks

22 April 2018, 23:55	#5
mfletcher Bawbag. Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Chicago, USA Posts: 375	Ive been playing around with this today and it definitely simplifies setting up systems in winuae... thanks!

13 August 2018, 23:22	#6
Hercules Vodka monster. Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: UK Posts: 332	Been playing around with this today... All paths setup correctly, and a whole day spent digesting the guides. It just wouldn't build an image at all throwing up errors when setting up with AF 2016. A shame because it looked promising.

14 August 2018, 01:30	#7
kolla Banned Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Trondheim, Norway Posts: 1,893	Too bad noone will get to see what those errors were.

14 August 2018, 02:19	#8
Minuous Coder/webmaster/gamer Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Canberra/Australia Posts: 2,630	A "minimalistic" installer that weighs in at 823Mb!? I think I'll pass...

08 October 2018, 22:43	#11
boondoggle Registered User Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Sweden Posts: 31	After I managed to name the workbench disks and kickstarts it was a straight forward setup. Then just renaming the hdf to vhd and write it to CF card with winimage was easy. However I now wonder if there is an easy way to update whdload package for AGS2 with new entries and images? Would it be possible for you to make some script to get screenshots from openretro.org? I´m thinking like using UUID info from FS-UAE database like: https://forums.launchbox-app.com/top...ith-launchbox/

08 October 2018, 23:18	#12
gulliver BoingBagged Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The South of nowhere Age: 46 Posts: 2,358	Thank you for your continuing work in HstWB !

11 October 2018, 09:37	#15
eispic Registered User Join Date: May 2017 Location: Paradies / Sky Posts: 56	Could extend that also for the following OS ? AmigaOS4.1 FE A.I.A.B BestWB

24 June 2020, 02:21	#17
TroyWilkins Registered User Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 548	I only just discovered this, due to it being mentioned elsewhere on this forum, and I think you've done a fantastic job, well done. I know this may be too much to ask, but would it be possible to add support for Kickstart 37.350 and Workbench 2, so I could use this to prep a setup for my real A600 that only has a soldered 37.350 ROM and 2MB Chip with a 16GB card? If that's too much to ask, I understand, and I can try to make it up on my own, as I know it's a niche request.

25 June 2020, 05:09	#19
dalek Registered User Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: NSW/Australia Posts: 462	In my opinion the documentation is excellent.

30 June 2020, 13:57	#20
rabidgerry Registered User Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Belfast Posts: 1,512	I have successfully done these installs using the 8gb image. But I will be honest I haven't a clue what half the options are. I would love to do it on the Amiga itself but I really don't know how to do that going on the guides. I have a question about creating an Hard File on WINUAE. Is it literally a case of copying the Hard File (once I run through the scripts obviously) via image copying software to removeable drive (my CF card)? This is how I did it even though the software I used didn't recognise the Hard File format, it still let me select it and I've copied the entire image to CF card and all seems to be working. I just remember it being a lot harder than this when I setup Classic workbench full on CF card before. I had to do something to the card on real Amiga to get it setup properly in order to stop errors. Also once I copied the Hard File to CF card I noticed if I deleted the partition using Hdtools to reformat and rename it something else, it would screw up the install and it would no longer work in WINUAE. Why would this be? I would leave the workbench partition intact but delete the other partition (6gb in my case) so I could re-name it but it was cause it to ruin the install somehow. I'm going to try a 16gb install soon. The rom switching thing is excellent, no more issues trying to map rom in Acatool to try and do an install.

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